On a day the mercury peaked to 46.7 degrees in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Union coal and power minister Piyush Goyal sparred on the issue of acute power shortage in the state with the former alleging that the Centre was not making available enough coal to fuel power plants.

“Of the total 6,200 MW sanctioned from central pool, state is only getting 4,200 MW. Before the Lok Sabha polls, state was given 5,200 MW power in this head. At present, the state is purchasing 800-1,000 MW power under energy exchange programme,” Akhilesh said in a letter to Goyal, adding it was not enough.

Goyal, however, replied that the Centre has “supplied adequate quantity of coal to power plants in UP as per the linkage.”

Stating that the Centre has also offered the state government to buy power from the northern grid, Goyal accused Akhilesh of not responding to his calls.

“I have personally been trying to contact UP CM since morning and have left messages but have unfortunately not heard from him,” Goyal said.

BSP and BJP, too, joined the issue. BSP chief Mayawati alleged that power supply has been restricted to native villages and parliamentary constituencies represented by Akhilesh’s family members. BJP’s state president Lakshmikant Bajpayee alleged that the the state government has created the power crisis after the rout in the Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, people took to streets in various parts of the state demanding immediate power restoration. On Thursday, BJP had protested at 30 district headquarters against crisis.